FIVE

"No," screamed Cole, rising to his feet. "Don't hurt her."

Isladec glanced at Cole. Then he turned back to the two oldest
sisters.

"I will strike a bargain," said Isladec. "Your word that you
will not use your power again and I shall let her live."

Prue looked at Piper. Piper nodded almost imperceptibly; but
enough for Prue to see her. Prue turned back to Isladec.

"You have a deal," said Prue.

Isladec released Phoebe. She moved away from the demon and
stood next to her sisters. Cole moved over and joined them. Isladec
changed back to the human form Phoebe had first seen him in.

"That was a wise bargain," said Isladec.

"How did you know we'd keep our word?" asked Piper.

"That is simple," said Isladec. "You are good witches. Good
witches always keep their word. It's what you might call a character
trait."

"That promise was only to get our sister free," said Prue. "It
doesn't apply if you attack again."

"You have no reason to fear that," said Isladec. "Our fight is
ended."

"What do you mean?" asked Cole.

"As you are very much aware," said Isladec to Cole, "I accept
assignments for my own reasons. My reason for taking this one was
quite simple. To test myself against this Power of Three. And, as
you have already pointed out, I have beaten that power."

"If you had beaten us," said Phoebe, "wouldn't we be dead right
now? How do you figure you won?"

"If Belthazor had not intervened," said Isladec, "I would have
destroyed you."

"He has a point," said Piper. "I was unconscious."

"Precisely my point," said Isladec. "And it is not necessary to
destroy you now, as Belthazor has also pointed out. I consider the
matter to be closed.

"But I must tell you that your Power of Three is everything I've
heard it is. It is quite impressive. Had you been able to use it a
third time, I would not be standing here talking to you now."

"You're not going to fight us anymore?" asked Prue.

"No," said Isladec. "As I said, I consider the matter to be
closed."

"What about who hired you?" asked Cole. "Won't they be upset
that you didn't destroy the Charmed Ones? I'm assuming that was the
assignment."

"A small group of lower level demons," said Isladec, "hoping to
impress their masters. I doubt I have much to concern myself with
them. Besides, the actual assignment was to beat the Power of Three.
That, as I have said, I have done. So in the strictest sense of the
deal, I have completed my assignment. It is not my fault if my
'employers' are not more specific in their desires."

"What about their masters?" asked Leo. "I'm sure they won't be
pleased knowing you had a chance to kill the Charmed Ones and didn't."

Isladec just laughed.

"Belthazor can tell you," said Isladec, "that I have very little
to fear from any demon in the underworld. They may complain about it.
But not to my face."

Isladec turned back to the Phoebe.

"You must be very special women to turn Belthazor to your side,"
he said. "That is no small feat. I shall take my leave of you now.
But you may rest a bit easier in the future. Our business is
concluded. I have no further reason to return here again."

Isladec suddenly flamed out and was gone. As if he had never
been there.

"That's one for the books," said Leo. "What we know of Isladec,
he's never walked away from an assignment before."

"No, he hasn't," said Cole. "It was a matter of pride with him.
And to be quite honest, I don't know hwy he did this time."

"Didn't you say he takes assignments for his own reasons?" asked
Phoebe.

"Yes, I did," said Cole. "It's been several centuries since the
battles between good and evil interested him."

"Well, maybe it's just like he said," responded Phoebe. "Maybe
he just wanted to test himself against the Power of Three. He did
give us plenty of time to prepare a Power of Three spell to use
against him. And he simply stood there the first time we used it
against him. Maybe he accomplished what he set out to do."

"Maybe," said Prue. "But if he ever comes back . . ."

"He won't," interrupted Cole. "You heard him. He has no reason
to come back here. I know him well enough to know he won't be back."

"Are you sure about that?" asked Piper.

"Yes," said Cole. "Unlike most demons, Isladec has never seen
the need for subterfuge. Trust me, he won't be back."

"Good," said Phoebe. "It's kind of scary knowing just how close
we all came to being killed, even with the Power of Three."

"Well, we didn't," said Piper. "And we still have a wedding to
plan for."

"In a bit," said Leo. "I have to make a report to the Elders
first. I shouldn't be gone long."

"See that you're not," said Piper. "This is your wedding, too,
you know."

Leo just smiled, and then orbed out.

The End

If you've enjoyed this story, you can find more "Charmed"
stories at my website, www.geocities.com/killeenmale/ . You can also
post your own "Charmed" stories if you like to write fan fiction.